San Francisco supervisors honor Public Defender Jeff Adachi, urge review after report leak

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors opened its Feb. 26 meeting with a series of tributes to the city’s late elected public defender, Jeff Adachi, and a call for review of how a police report about Adachi’s death reached the press.

Acting Public Defender Matt Gonzales told the board that Adachi’s staff were “very proud of Jeff” and that he would convey the board’s remarks to the family. Multiple supervisors recalled Adachi’s legal innovations, recruitment of staff, and longtime work on criminal justice reform.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin said the city had “lost one of our greatest” and described Adachi as “the vanguard” of a progressive Public Defender’s Office. Peskin added that he was “deeply troubled by the unprecedented leaking of a police report” and said he would address the issue at a later time.

Supervisor Catherine Stefani (listed in the transcript as “Supervisor Stephanie”) and others described Adachi’s willingness to take difficult trials personally and to represent clients who are often marginalized. Supervisor Hillary Ronan noted that Adachi’s office had been “the best” representation available for many San Franciscans and stressed the office’s role beyond the courtroom. Supervisor Shamann Walton and Supervisor London Breed (appearing as supervisors in remarks) and others emphasized Adachi’s role connecting communities and securing budget resources for programs such as Mo’ Magic and HOPESF.

The board offered multiple personal remembrances about Adachi’s public-facing activism, his film and cultural work, and his role mentoring attorneys. Several supervisors described how Adachi’s budget requests and community organizing shaped services for veterans, immigrants and other groups.

The board adopted a motion to adjourn the meeting in memory of Adachi on a voice vote after the tributes.

Adjournment-in-memory motion: ‘‘motion to adjourn this meeting in memory of our late public defender, Jeff Adachi, on behalf of the board of supervisors,’’ seconded by Supervisor Peskin; motion passed without objection.

Why it matters: Jeff Adachi led the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office for nearly two decades and was widely credited by board members for legal innovations and for expanding services for low-income clients. In addition to remembering his career, several supervisors raised concerns about the handling and disclosure of investigative material following his death, placing questions about internal police procedures and media access on the board’s radar.

What the transcript shows: Acting Public Defender Matt Gonzales and at least nine supervisors delivered remarks during a memorial period that began immediately after roll call. The request to adjourn in memory passed without objection, and several supervisors indicated they would pursue follow-up on a reported leak of a police report.

Sources: remarks recorded in the Feb. 26, 2019 San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting transcript, including comments by acting public defender Matt Gonzales and multiple supervisors.